Interior Secretary Deb Haaland was in Denver on Thursday to discuss the worsening drought conditions in the West and highlight the Interior Department’s efforts to support farmers, Tribes, and communities impacted by ongoing water shortages.
Haaland joined Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Rep. Diana DeGette, and local, state and federal leaders to discuss the ongoing drought at a roundtable at the Denver Water Center.
“Drought does not just impact one community — it affects all of us, from farmers and ranchers to city dwellers and Tribes,” Haaland said.
The Interior Department is helping lead the administration’s Drought Relief Interagency Working Group, which is marshaling existing resources and working in partnership with state, local and Tribal governments to address the needs of communities suffering from drought-related impacts.
Also at the event was Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo, who has been crisscrossing Colorado to hear from water users, irrigators, farmers, scientists and local leaders about how the federal government can support their efforts.
“We look forward to working closely with our partners in Colorado to address the many challenges we face, ranging from severe drought conditions on the Western Slope to landslides that have resulted from last year’s wildfire,” Trujillo said. “Our shared priority is to support efforts to build resilient communities and protect our water supplies for people and the natural environment.”
